Sexuality In The Elderly

A common myth that is misguided, as fact among today’s youth, is sexual intercourse in the elderly does not exist. An article published by British Geriatrics Society presented it is a fallacy to believe sexuality is absent in the elderly community. “There is a general societal belief that old people are, or should be, asexual and a false assumption exists that physical attractiveness depends on youth and beauty.”(BGS) But fact proves otherwise, a statistic engendered by a group affiliated with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) showed fifty-seven percent of men and women over sixty years of age were sexually active. It is indeed present and very well alive. The article provided for this assignment promotes sexual desire and sexual expression

I do not find this entirely true. In the past, television shows, movies, and commercials underrepresented the older male and female role. Now, it has changed and these roles portrayed have a more genuine identity, and stereotyping has decreased, but I do not consider it has progressed from one end to the other. I have not seen from any social media channel showing the baby-boomer community as a crazed, lustful group looking to jump in bed with any willing candidate. Instead, I see the image of elderly sexual expression accepted in the media due largely to today’s society. Sexuality, across the board, has become more acceptable among people; with America as diverse as we are, it is a mere fact of societal change for the topic “sexuality in the elderly” to come from ghastly to

According to WebMD, since Viagra’s introduction in March of 1998, it has been linked to five hundred and twenty-two deaths. (WebMD) This is an arguable number in itself, and the drug has been blamed for factors not at fault, or risks that have been addressed before prescription. I believe erroneous evidence about Viagra contradictions portrayed by the media causes a negative perception on geriatric intercourse, because it is safe to assume, by ill-informed people, that without the act, the elderly decrease a chance for heart attack. Viagra does not cause a heart attack; engaging in spirited activity, that one is not use to, causes heart related deaths. Education and proper screening prior to prescribing Viagra would limit deaths and the negative opinion shown by the community. Intercourse is a part in sexual expression, an anything that promotes sexual expression should be considered a useful